Finding Spirit in the Modern World

Card of the Day: The Bright Mother

This one is a long read but worth it. The mothering quality, no matter if it’s from a man or woman, is important for society’s overall health. There are those who twist it for their own ends, so we need to be cognizant of what we do to others in the name of mothering as well as the mothering energies we receive. Blessings!

She is the Bright Mother of us all and knows that life—all life—is a miracle. The Bright Mother is constantly amazed at its perfection-in-imperfection. She rejoices in its being, sorrows for its growing pains, and exults in its success. This great lady is both Earthmother and the full, bright Moon, pregnant with the future of all growing things. She feeds us and provides us with air, water, and shelter in an amazing, complex world. She sees to it that we are challenged enough to grow but not so much as to be overwhelmed. If we want more challenges than she provides, we have to give them to ourselves.

The Bright Mother is the guardian of family life, and she creates and holds a nurturing environment for us all. She is the garden where vegetables, fruits, and herbs grow. Thus, she sees and holds the mysteries in ordinary processes of daily life—the bees making honey, the cream turning to butter, the birth of the baby and its growth, the blossom turning to fruit, and the wheat ripening. This lady has loving patience for natural processes, however slow.

Reading: When the Bright Mother is present in a reading, she speaks of a time of fertility, creativity, and nurturing of ourselves or of others. She might indicate marriage or the birth of a child or a deepening of any kind of relationship. She also speaks of giving one’s all to life, not holding back. She is like a cornucopia, pouring forth abundance. This may be a time to put the news of others first, taking care of yourself later. Patience may be needed for the process being discussed.

Consider what you have. Acknowledge the people and things in your life—good, bad, and indifferent. This consideration is not to judge, approve, or reject, but merely to recognize what is present in your life. These are your present fulfillment, the things you have created for yourself, drawing upon the power of Unity and the Singers (or not, as the case may be). Once you have looked clearly at what is present in your life, you may want to ask yourself what you want to change.

This card may also mean that these ideas apply to men as well as women. They can even apply to institutions such as churches, governments, charities, and social groups.

When we are blocking the Bright Mother’s energy in our lives, we have difficulty giving or receiving nurturing. This may manifest itself physically as well as emotionally. It could mean physical problems such as digestive or eating disorders, or emotional difficulties with giving care or receiving care from others. We may also be unclear about our emotional boundaries.

When her energy is twisted, we see the “smother mother” who refuses to let those within her care grow up and become independent, crippling them in their adult life. Or perhaps the warped energy becomes the “martyr mother” who “sacrifices everything for you” (whether you want it or not) and then expects you to sacrifice everything for her forever. If we find in ourselves tendencies to do these things, we need to change both our habits and our deep programming, which may require professional help.

At worst, the Bright Mother’s energy becomes a fire of destruction, creating burnout where there should be nurturing. This happens when we give until we are exhausted and don’t take time to nurture ourselves or allow others to do so. Rage or cruelty directed at those who rightfully depend upon us also falls into this extreme category.